FA865020S6001RFI.pdf

Aerospace Systems Technology Research and Assessment (ASTRA)

Special Notice - Request for Information (RFI)

RFI Number: FA8650-20-S-6001-RFI

Agency: Department of the Air Force

Office: Air Force Materiel Command

Location: AFRL – Air Force Research Laboratory

Purpose: This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for planning purposes in accordance with FAR

15.201(e): a) The Government is conducting initial market research to identify, as potential sources, companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to competently and competitively respond to requirements for the Aerospace Systems Technology Research and

Assessment (ASTRA) Program. b) Responses to this RFI notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Contractors/Institutions participating in this initial market research are advised their participation in this survey does not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. Moreover, the Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with preparation for or participation in this survey. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

Instructions: Please provide written answers to the following questions. The Government will utilize the answers to inform the acquisition strategy. The Government does not plan to further discuss questions and answers generated by this RFI with industry. Answers to these questions may be proprietary, and if so should be marked as such to keep the information for official use only with distribution authorized to

DoD Components only (Distribution Statement E).

Written responses: Electronic format is preferred and must be received no later than close of business

07 February 2020. Responses may be encrypted and password protected if you desire. Mailed responses will be accepted and considered if received by close of business 07 February 2020. Please email responses to Peter.Seiley@us.af.mil or mail your response to this RFI to: AFRL/RQKPD, Attn: Mr. Peter

Seiley (Contracts), 2130 Eighth St., Bldg 45, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7541.

Information:

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in acquiring research and development related to

Aerospace Technology Development and Testing (ATDT) and Multi-Domain Modeling, Simulation, and

Analysis (MDMSA). AFRL has previously accomplished this research under one single-award Indefinite

Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with multiple task orders to accomplish research efforts related to ATDT and MDMSA. This research has been conducted through the Research of Aerospace

Systems Technology (RAST) Program (Broad Agency Announcement BAA-RQKP-2014-0003).

To increase industry involvement and benefit from focused tasking, AFRL is considering the use of two single-award IDIQs to accomplish this research. The two IDIQ contracts would share a single-cost ceiling with a single-award IDIQ contract scoped to each of the two focus areas: ATDT or MDMSA. These two single-award IDIQ contracts would be planned under one solicitation.

Conceptually, two different prime contractors could be awarded each one of the single-award IDIQ contracts. Or, one prime contractor could be awarded both. Due to the nature of the research and focus areas, information sharing and resource sharing would be essential. As such, formation and agreement to an Associate Contractor Agreement (ACA) between the prime contractors would be necessary.

Competition for future task order requirements after initial award is not anticipated between the two

IDIQ contracts. The AFRL Program Manager will choose to order tasks from one of the two IDIQ contracts based on the predominance of the task order focus. In some instances future task order requirements may involve elements of both focus areas. When this situation arises, the AFRL Program

Manager will make an assessment of which focus area the task is best aligned and the Government will order from that IDIQ contract.

A breakout of the focus areas and a depiction of the contract structure are provided as Attachment 1 to this RFI.

Questions:

1) What issues or risks, if any, does industry identify with the proposed two single-award IDIQ contract structure and the separate focus approach?

2) What issues or risks, if any, does industry identify with the requirement for an ACA between the two awardees?

3) AFRL would like to encourage contractor teaming for each focus area requirement. Are there any ways AFRL can facilitate teaming or structure the requirement to aid this objective?

4) After examining the elements of the two focus areas are there any related capabilities industry identifies that should be added or addressed in the scope of this requirement?

5) What other issues, if any, related to this potential acquisition should AFRL address when planning this requirement?

Please submit responses in accordance with the instructions for written responses included herein.

Attachment:

Attachment 1 ASTRA Focus Areas & Contract Structure (3 pages)

ASTRA Focus Areas & Contract Structure

A F R L / R Q , J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0

Focus Areas

Aerospace Technology Development & Testing Multi-Domain Modeling, Simulation, & Analysis

Controls R&D

• Technology evaluation

• Software/algorithm development

• Software/algorithm testing

• Hardware development

• Hardware-in-the-loop testing

• Flight testing

MS&A Tool Development

• Sim framework design/development

• System-of-systems model creation

• Multi-domain scenario development

• Sim visualization application development

• Terrain database generation

• Agent modeling architecture development

• End-to-end digital engineering capabilities

Multi-Domain Analysis

• Military utility analysis

• Technology tradespace analysis

• M&S enhanced wargames

• CONOPS/CONEMPS development

• System-of-systems analysis

• Business case & cost analysis

Aerospace Technology MS&A

• Constructive simulation

• Virtual simulation

• Hardware-in-the-loop simulation

• Flight test risk reduction simulation

• Component/subsystem testing

• System testing

Focus Areas & Scoping Are Subject to Change

Contract Structure

Aerospace

Technology

Development

& Testing

Basic Contract

(general SOW)

Multi-Domain

Modeling, Simulation, &

Analysis

Basic Contract

(general SOW)

Multi-Domain

Sim Based

Systems

Engineering

Task Order

(specific SOW)

Control

Automation

Task Order

(specific SOW)

Future

Task Order

(specific SOW)

Simulation

Framework

Task Order

(specific SOW)

Future

Task Order

(specific SOW)

Broad Agency Announcement

Aerospace Technology Development & Testing

• Basic Statement of Objectives

• Task Order 1 Statement of Objectives

Multi-Domain Modeling, Simulation, & Analysis

• Basic Statement of Objectives

• Task Order 1 Statement of Objectives

• Task Order 2 Statement of Objectives

Contract Structure & Initial Task Orders

Are Subject to Change

Associate Contractor Agreement Required

Single-Award

IDIQ Contract

Single-Award

IDIQ Contract